At each class, we begin and end with a “Hello Song” and “Goodbye Song.”  Students like having this routine, and they are very good at reminding me about the songs if I forget about them!  I have the students tap the beat on their knees (as we sit cross-legged on our carpet squares) while we sing.  That way, I can tell if they are engaged even if they aren’t singing all the lyrics for one reason or another.

When I lesson plan the evening before the next day’s class, I try to include the following things: 

• Some kind of worksheet or written activity that they can take home and show their parents or hang on the fridge.
• At least one kind of movement activity.   I believe that the best way to develop a good sense of rhythm in students is through movement-related activities.  Including movement activities in classes is strategic also because young children can’t sit still for very long.  I find it’s best to do a movement activity right before the worksheet time so they can get their wiggles out!
• At least one activity using the piano.  I use silent keyboards and other props/games to learn various pre-piano concepts away from the piano, but I also make it a priority to let them use the actual piano because 1) that’s the whole point: nurturing a desire to make beautiful sounds at the piano; and 2) they love it so much!

On my lesson plan, I organize each activity chronologically, with a note next to each activity of the approximate time that each activity will begin.  I usually watch the clock pretty closely as I teach and try to stay on schedule.  If an activity takes longer or shorter than I anticipated, I adjust the next activity accordingly.  I also plan an “if time” activity in case it’s needed.  It’s important to be flexible!

At the end of the lesson plan, I compile a list of needed materials, so that I can easily gather them the next day before class and put everything in a basket.

Since the Homeschool Music class is intended to be a more academic class (versus the focus on music-making and pre-piano skills of the Piano Readiness Class), we are studying a composer each week.  I let them color a coloring page of the composer while I read a simple biography.  Then we listen to a famous composition and complete a worksheet that I create about the composition.

Here’s a screenshot of a lesson plan from last October, complete with all the elements mentioned above (click the image to enlarge, and then hit esc. to exit from viewing the image):

Printables mentioned in this lesson plan: the Rainy Rhythm game, the Musical Instruments Workbook, and the Musical Alphabet cards.

That pretty much sums up my method of lesson planning.  If you have questions or your own tips about lesson planning, share them in the comments!

Related Posts:

• First Thoughts Regarding Faber’s “My First Piano Adventure”
• Make Me A Rhythm! game
• “Musical Hopscotch” game
• Forum Q&A: Lesson Planning for Private Lessons
• Just Added: Musical Alphabet Cards

click image to enlarge

If you head over the the Printables page, you will see that it has undergone a complete makeover!  I was having a great deal of difficulty with the WordPress plugin I was using to organize and display my printables, so finally I scrapped it totally and found another one.  Although it is not as fancy as before (i.e., there are no longer any preview thumbnails of each file), it gets the job done!

The following posts have been updated so that the links to each pdf are now working:

• New Worksheet: Intervals Unison-3rd
• New Worksheet: Intervals Unison-5th
• NEW Printables Added: Review Tests A-J plus a Guide

You can also simply visit the Printables page to see a listing of all the pdfs currently available.  Enjoy!

Related Posts:

• Just Added: Five-Finger Pattern (b’s) Review
• Just Added: Five-Finger Pattern Review (#’s)
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 2 (DAEBb) Worksheet
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords Worksheet 1 (CGDF)
• Just added: Performing at the Piano Worksheet

Please refrain from copying and using this handout as is.  I’ve provided it here to give you ideas and to inspire you to make your own.  Please, leave comments and let me know what you’ve made!

sample Studio Policies

Related Posts:

• Studio Policies
• Conducting Student Interviews
• 3 New Printables and 5 Others Updated!
• Forum Q&A | What is your Policy Regarding Summer Lessons?
• Just Added: Printable Musical Dice

Just added: THREE new printables on the Printables > Other Resources page:

1. Beginner Student Interview Form
2. Transfer Student Interview Form
3. Student Information Form

These resources are useful for conducting student interviews at the first lesson with a new or transfer student.  The interview forms help evaluate the student’s musical aptitude and background, to help the teacher determine what level repertoire the student should be playing, as well as what technique exercises should be assigned.  The student information form is designed to gather basic contact information from the student — as well as some information from the parent regarding the child’s personality/learning style and musical background. Read on….

Read more about these forms below…

1. Beginner Student Interview Form:

This form is designed for use during the interview or first lesson with a new beginner student who the teacher is planning to accept into their studio.

The first part of the form asks for basic information, which the student should be able to provide.  The second part of the form gives a number of activities that the teacher can conduct with the student, in order to evaluate the student’s musical aptitude and background.

Click the preview image to view it large.

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2. Transfer Student Interview Form:

This form is designed for use during the interview or first lesson with a new transfer (i.e., non-beginner) student who the teacher is planning to accept into their studio.

The first part of the form asks for basic information, which the student should be able to provide.  The second part of the form lists a number of activities that the teacher can conduct with the student, in order to evaluate the student’s previous training and musical ability.

Click the preview image to view it large.

* * *

3.  Student Information Form:

This form is designed to be used during a student’s first lesson with the teacher, to be filled out by the parent while the teacher is working with the student.

The form collects contact information as well as other valuable information, including questions about the child’s personality and musical background.  This form may then be returned to the teacher when completed, and filed for later reference.

Click the preview image to view it large.

The ideas for these forms came largely from reading How to Teach Piano Successfully by James Bastien (which is a wonderful book that I highly recommend), and from my piano pedagogy class during undergrad.

• coming soon! a sample Studio Policies handout

Related Posts:

• Building Your Studio: Offer Free Trial Lesson, and Have References Ready!
• Building Your Studio: How to Inform Parents About Your Tuition Rates
• Conducting Student Interviews
• Just Added: Navigating at the Keyboard Worksheet
• Just Added: Musical Leaves Matchup game